Save As You Earn

Save As You Earn (SAYE), also known as Sharesave or the Savings-related Share Option Scheme, is an all-employee share option scheme that allows participating employees to purchase shares at a fixed price at a future date.

Background

SAYE was introduced as the “Savings-related Share Option Scheme” in the Finance Act 1980, and came into effect on July 1 1981.

Summary

Under Save As You Earn, the company offers employees an option price which can be up to 20 percent lower than the market value share price.

Employees who join the scheme can choose a contract period of 3 or 5 years to save a monthly amount from post-tax salary of between £5 and £500.

At the end of the contract period the savings are used to buy shares at the option price. If the share price has gone up during that time, the employee gains from that. This gain is taxed as capital rather than income. Each employee enjoys an annual exemption from Capital Gains Tax of £11,000 which means all increases up to this amount are tax-free.

If the share price has gone below the option price even with the discount, employees get all their savings back. Companies favour this scheme because it encourages a savings culture and it is a one-way bet for employees.

Save As You Earn (SAYE) often known as Sharesave is an all-employee share option scheme

The employee can save from £5 to £500 per month out of taxed pay on a 3 or 5 years saving contract

Employees are offered the option to buy shares in the company at a future date

A discount of up to 20% of current price may be offered

Bonuses are paid equivalent to fixed rate interest and are set by the Treasury

Bonus rates cannot fall below zero

At the end of the agreed period contributors to an SAYE scheme can either use the money saved, with the bonus and interest to buy shares in the company or can have their contributions returned

The bonus and any gains made on the shares are exempt from income tax and national insurance

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) may be payable if the amount exceeds the annual personal allowance of £11,000